Old Marshalls and the Fryette PS-2

  • Thread starter Thread starter vander
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Off topic but have to say it: I'd recommend not giving the exact location of where your gear is stored for absolutely no reason.
 
psychodave":12k8ffrg said:
I tried the PS-1 with a Marshall and hated it. Lots of artifacts in the sound that made it unusable. It was one of the biggest let downs from a piece of gear. Makes me wonder why so many people like it?
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Yes. I agree. Something weird there...
 
itsme":3d27kml1 said:
psychodave":3d27kml1 said:
I tried the PS-1 with a Marshall and hated it. Lots of artifacts in the sound that made it unusable. It was one of the biggest let downs from a piece of gear. Makes me wonder why so many people like it?
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Yes. I agree. Something weird there...
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I’d say in reality it depends on the exact amp being used. I’ve had a PS2 since it was first released and it sounds really good with certain amps and like absolute shit with others. Depends on the application.
 
The only reason I would get a PS2 or something like it is to get a useable loop for non loop amps but Ive been really happy with the attenuator Ive already had for 20 years, so it's not a huge motivational buy. Ive owned a few master volume Marshall's from the late 70's and would always just use the MV. I experimented with attenuators but the sound just got rattier or less controlled and not in a good way. Some of the best Marshall tones on tape I ever got were late at night, amp MV set very low, single 57 and pinning a mic pre to get enough level. I would never bother with an attenuator again for a MV marshall. MV boogies are another story. Those suckers can become different amps at volume and for the better too.
 
Just got the WAZA Tube amp expander and it’s freakin awesome!
 
Might as well buy a ultimate att. cheap remember those. Its the same thing minus tubes. I still have one it works, changes tone somewhat. They all do.
 
My problem is my amps sound great at two and I simply wanted to know if I would gain anything special in the tone by running them at six or seven through an amazing attenuator...the ps2..and I've run through quite a few.

Being in the same room with Marshall on 6 or 7 is terryifing...your organs vibrate. If dudes can do that regularly without isolation I applaud you. Seems to me I'm not gaining anything running them super high volume from a lot of responses. So I'm good...run em straight through. Moving plenty of cone air at that volume... I'm happy with that diagnosis.
 
I feel ya off topic Ultra Gary...but the studio has around 150 leased practice rooms...front desk and roving security after using electronic entry fobs so I think it would be hard to target me...probably want to raid other rooms first anyways...I stop at doors all the time cause the place is full of really good bands and musicians...inspiring really.
 
LP Freak":25j16m3z said:
I didn’t like how both the PS1 and PS2 my amps sound. Yes, they have controls to help compensate but they give every amp a certain tone that can’t be dialed out. I hear that same tone regardless the amp.
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I have yet to hear one of these reamping type power amps not change the tone of an amp. I've got the BadCat Unleash, and only use it with my 9w Gibson Gibsonette amp. Yes, it makes it louder than hell with the two volume knobs and the footswitch, but it does change the tone a fair bit.

I wound up packing it up, and running the amp into a 4x12, and being happy again.
 
The physical sound pressure in a room makes things sound wildly different.
 
I didn't mean your amps were the problem, I m saying you really don't need such a device for mv/modded amp unless you wanted it to run effects if you have no loop.
 
Hello everyone. I shot a short sound comparison of the transparency of Fryette PS2 (Power Attenuator) and Friedman JJ Jr amp (head) set at unity volume. I’ll include also a link to a vid with my 1987 JMP 50 from 1975 with the same attenuator.
For me this is the most accurate/transparent attenuator I’ve ever tried. That’s why I always use it during my recordings at my flat’s home studio.
If you are interested check out this very quick 2 min. video in the link below.
More info including the WAV 24bit 48kHz sound sample link in the description on my YouTube channel. ???
SOUND COMPARISON at unity volume
Marshall JMP50 plus PS2
 
I can't say I've used the PS with vintage Marshalls, but I tried it with more modern amps and also sent it packing. Lots of good points in this thread, like your cab/speaker combo and general db making a huge difference in tone. Not to mention your location relative to the cab, on/off axis, room acoustics, etc. But all things staying the same, and the only variable being straight into amp vs incorporating the PS, I've always preferred straight into amp and using the MV. I do like how you can achieve more sag with the PS though, so if you like that aspect of your tone then maybe it's worth keeping it around.

I've also tried the Boss TAE and also sent it packing. Nothing wrong with the unit really...sounds pretty good...but just not quite as good as without it. Easy decision for me!
 
I used the Power Station with a few rather old 1959s. One of them was red plating tubes with or without the PS. The other was fine either way. So the PS didn't seem to be causing any troubles.

Ultimately though it was just too much bother for me. Give me an amp with a master volume please. As for amps with a master volume, they sounded better IMHO with the master than trying to use the PS instead.
 
cardinal said:
I used the Power Station with a few rather old 1959s. One of them was red plating tubes with or without the PS. The other was fine either way. So the PS didn't seem to be causing any troubles.

Ultimately though it was just too much bother for me. Give me an amp with a master volume please. As for amps with a master volume, they sounded better IMHO with the master than trying to use the PS instead.
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I have 5 Friedman amps with one of the best MV on the market IMHO and my conclusion is: if you play only for fun at home with bedroom level-it sounds great and you don’t need power attenuator unless you need the brilliant send/return option for vintage amps without fx loop like for instance my beloved vintage (1975) JMP50 1987 . If you try to record this fine bedroomsound via mic’d cabinet and compared the recorded sound with the same sound but recorded with cranked amp through the same mic’d speaker using Power Station attenuator you’ll understand very fast the reason to have this unit. I’m talking about high quallity recording guitar track of course. I’ll demonstrate you this in short sample later when I have some free time. Cheers ???
 
itsme said:
I wasn't impressed with the PS and got rid of mine. Although it's not a vintage Marshall, I used it with my '82 2204. It sounds much better and more natural with the master volume on 2 with a clean boost than it did on 7 with the PS
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'82 2204? This, young Skywalker, is indeed a vintage amp.
 
pepislang said:
I have 5 Friedman amps with one of the best MV on the market IMHO and my conclusion is: if you play only for fun at home with bedroom level-it sounds great and you don’t need power attenuator unless you need the brilliant send/return option for vintage amps without fx loop like for instance my beloved vintage (1975) JMP50 1987 . If you try to record this fine bedroomsound via mic’d cabinet and compared the recorded sound with the same sound but recorded with cranked amp through the same mic’d speaker using Power Station attenuator you’ll understand very fast the reason to have this unit. I’m talking about high quallity recording guitar track of course. I’ll demonstrate you this in short sample later when I have some free time. Cheers ???
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Agree. The old dogs do something different when the MV goes up and the preamp gain gets dialed back a bit. They are big but they can cut. Magic. preamp gain also affects how your pedals make your rig sound. People would probably cycle through less boosts if they had an amp opened up
 
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